US Department of the Interior: Sex, Drugs, and Oil

Chat with us on Facebook Messenger. Learn what's trending across POPSUGAR.

The Interior Department, which controls oil and gas collected from US taxpayer-owned coastal waters, has been plagued with shocking ethical abuses, according to a government investigation. Violations range from giving contracts to a retired employee instead of allowing for competitive bidding to substance abuse and promiscuity.
The report states that officials “frequently consumed alcohol at (oil) industry functions, used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and gas company representatives.” Officials also allegedly accepted gifts from energy companies that exceed ethics rules, such as golf, meals and drinks, and tickets to a Toby Keith concert. In addition, oil companies were allowed to purchase oil and gas at a lowered price, after they had won contracts.

The alleged ethics mayhem took place in the Mineral Management Service (MMS) and Royalty In Kind Programs. The MMS brings in $10 billion for the federal government each year. It's the second biggest revenue maker after taxes. To find out what the investigation recommends now,

.

The investigation strongly recommends that the Bush Administration either fire those who accepted gifts, or ban them from certain positions. Many have been transferred to other government jobs. The high-ranking officials retired during the investigation. Thus they could only face consequences if the Justice Department pursued suggested charges, which it has declined to do.

Since the department in charge of taxpayer oil seems to be a free for all, do you think we should hold off putting more oil and money in their hands through increased offshore drilling, or is this just the immoral and illegal behavior by a few bad apples?

i think that there's always going to be some level of gift giving/receiving in business - that's not going to stop just because some people claim that it's unethical - but i think that there is a need for bidding and comparing what people can do - since it's not fair to just go ahead and use 'nepotism' to an extent and give the work to a certain person. i wonder what they are really going to do to police this - so that they can curb this.
wasn't there a huge controversy about several congressmen last year for taking bribes/gifts etc?
also, you have to put things into perspective - if they are making more money than most other departments - then i'm not sure they are going to be so willing to ruffle the feathers internally. it's a catch-22 i think.

The problem with all large companies (not just the government) is that eventually you get a level of management that just don't care. That's where you get the mismanagement and corruption. I'd like to see power taken away from the national government, and given to the states and local government. We should also send the money directly do the various states, and allow those states to use the money as they need.

This is what happens when we let beauracricies run things with little or no accountability. They corrupt it. This is what will happen with everything that is government run. Look at the VA system. Do we really want a government known for a lack of oversight running our health care system?